Carl Jeffers editorializing in today's Seattle Times explains why:

[T]he 55 million Americans who voted for John Kerry seem to be going through a self-flagellation process in which they feel sad, angry, hopelessly lost, and pessimistic about the future of the country and the Democratic Party. Thanks to the re-emergence of "red state" moral issues, they also feel somewhat isolated in their own country.

Those voters do not need to feel so pessimistic about the future of their party, or of progressive liberal thought. Let's review some facts. In losing, Kerry received more votes than any other previous presidential candidate, including Al Gore and two-time winner Bill Clinton.

And while President Bush's numbers moved up among several important voting groups, particularly Hispanics, here's the reality. Kerry won the Hispanic vote by almost 10 points, he overwhelmingly won the African-American vote with close to 89 percent, he won the Jewish vote and those of gays, liberals and independents, single moms, working moms, and the 18-to-30-year-old group.

How true. Though the Democrats did lose this year, they overlook many of the trends that can help them in the future. This is a great piece and also worth reading on this, the day after Thanksgiving.